Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 06:
Although DOTS is the most effective means of curing TB, the method is still not able to implement successfully in the State, said State TB officer Dr AK Khamba.
He was speaking today as a resource person at the one-day TB awareness programme for media people organised by Digital World Film Production Centre under the aegis of Central Government's Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme at Manipur Press Club.
Khamba said that a patient can undergo treatment in three categories.
Patients have to take medicine for six months in the first two categories, while in the third category takes eight months, he added.
However, many patients stop taking medicine in the State before completion of full treatment, and it proves to be the main reason for the failure of this method, Khamba observed.
Informing that Manipur stands second in India in not completing the course of taking medicine, Khamba added that cases of MDR TB have also been detected in the State.
He said that a patient has to shell out up to Rs 6000 for diagnosis only for MDR TB cases as the facility is currently not available in Manipur.
Khamba appealed the patients not to stop taking of medicine before the completion of its full course to avoid MDR TB.
Former ISTV news-editor K Madhumangol Sharma, All Manipur Working Journalists' Union president S Hemanta Singh and State TB Cell IEC officer K Deben Singh graced the function as chief guest, president and guest of honour.